N-doped carbon nanotubes grown on red mud residue: Hybrid nanocomposites for technological applications

N-doped carbon nanotubes were grown on the surface of red mud residue to produce hybrid nanocomposites. The structure, composition and amphiphilic properties of the resulting nanocomposites were characterized in detail by physicochemical means such as elemental analysis, thermal analysis, Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopies, BET surface area and Mossbauer spectroscopy. Nanocomposites with different nitrogen contents were obtained. Studies on adsorption of emerging contaminants and catalysis of oxidation reactions by these nanocomposites have shown to be very promising, especially due to nitrogen content and structural defects. It was observed that composites containing carbon nanotubes doped with nitrogen present greater wettability and affinity for polar molecules and due to this fact can be easier dispersed in liquid systems and interact better with organic contaminants in water.